What does authentic prayer look like in the digital age? Monica Martinez, Parish Lead at Hallow, shares her powerful journey from a teenager who stopped going to Mass to becoming a passionate advocate for healing through faith. In this deeply personal conversation, Monica discusses how prayer evolved from a childhood habit into a transformative relationship, why apps like Hallow are helping people discover faith safely, and how the modern Church can create genuine spaces for encounter. Whether you're exploring prayer for the first time or seeking to deepen your spiritual life, this episode offers practical wisdom on listening, silence, and meeting God in the everyday moments.

Monica's Journey to Healing

• How family struggles with divorce and alcoholism sparked a lifelong search for healing (2:00)
• The pivotal 21st birthday moment that changed everything (4:00)
• Why healing isn't a one-time event but a continuous journey

Prayer Apps and Digital Spirituality

• Why 43% of Hallow users aren't Catholic—and what that reveals about modern faith seeking (6:00)
• The "safety factor" of digital prayer: exploring faith without vulnerability (7:00)
• Balancing prayer apps with authentic relationship: avoiding the "streak" mentality (10:00)

The Evolution of Prayer

• From rote prayers to relationship: Monica's transformation (22:00)
• The freedom that comes from trusting the Holy Spirit (21:00)
• Why "Come Holy Spirit" is about perception, not summoning (31:00)

Listening in Prayer

• What makes someone a good listener in prayer—and in life (26:00)
• The challenge and importance of silence (28:00)
• Practical advice for entering contemplative prayer (30:00)

Prayer Styles and Traditions

• Why different forms of prayer reflect God's creativity (35:00)
• The unity found in memorized prayers across cultures (36:00)
• When to use rote prayers vs. spontaneous meditation (37:00)

Modern Evangelization

• Creating welcoming parish environments post-COVID (39:00)
• Why the Eucharist might not be the best first entry point (42:00)
• The importance of accompanying seekers with gentleness (47:00)
• Learning to meet people where they are, not where we think they should be (50:00)

Monica Martinez serves as Parish Lead at Hallow, the #1 Catholic prayer app, where she partners with parishes across the country to deepen prayer lives. Previously, she worked as Associate Director for Alpha in the Catholic context and served in diocesan ministry. Monica's work is driven by her personal experience of healing through faith, particularly her journey through family struggles with divorce and alcoholism. She travels nationally leading missions focused on prayer, evangelization, and creating spaces for authentic conversation about faith.

On Prayer and Relationship:

"Prayer is not so much something I'm doing, it's something I'm allowing to be done to me. When I'm tired, it's not that I'm too tired to pray—I need you, Lord, to help me rest." — Monica Martinez (23:00)

On Digital Tools:

"You don't need an app to pray, but you also don't need a trainer to get fit. But it really does help to learn the right form and not hurt yourself." —Monica Martinez (7:00)

On Healing:

"When you encounter that relationship, when you encounter healing, there's nothing left for you to do but help other...

• (00:02:00) - Monica's journey through healing
• (00:06:00) - Why prayer apps resonate today
• (00:26:00) - How to become a better listener in prayer
• (00:35:00) - Traditional vs. contemplative prayer: both have value
• (00:38:00) - Evangelization in the modern parish
• (00:50:00) - Meeting people with compassion, like Jesus on the Road to Emmaus

In this bonus episode of Religion to Reality, hosts Dave Plisky and Father John Gribowich sit down with Catholic educator and mindfulness teacher, Kathy Lorentz, to explore how prayer is far more than just words. It's about cultivating awareness of God's presence throughout every moment of our lives.

Kathy shares her journey from playing the Blessed Mother in a touring play at age 16 to becoming a theology teacher who works with students from preschool through adulthood. Her approach to prayer challenges traditional notions, revealing how attention, gratitude, and presence can transform mundane moments into sacred encounters.

Listen now to discover how you can develop a deeper prayer life without adding more to your to-do list.

The Nature of Prayer and Attention (03:00-09:00)

• Why prayer isn't just an activity but an awareness of God's presence
• The profound connection between attention and prayer: "Attention taken to its highest degree is the same thing as prayer" (Simone Weil)
• How attention works like a spotlight—you can only focus on one thing at a time
• Understanding that "attention is a muscle" that strengthens with practice

Navigating the Digital Age Mindfully (09:00-12:00)

• Practical strategies for teaching high school students to manage digital distractions
• The importance of turning off notifications and using "do not disturb" mode intentionally
• Helping students recognize the preciousness of time through journaling their digital habits
• How to be fully present whether in prayer or conversation

Prayer Practices for Everyday Life (12:00-19:00)

• Using gratitude as a form of prayer—finding three or four meaningful moments each day
• The comfort and power of repetitive prayers like the Hail Mary (Kathy prays it up to 50 times daily)
• Creating "mindfulness bells" throughout your day—doorways, meals, car rides as prayer opportunities
• Prayer while driving past struggling communities: holding people in compassionate love

The Importance of Intentional Prayer Time (20:00-23:00)

• Why setting aside dedicated time for prayer matters, even when we know life itself is prayer
• The transformative power of beginning your day with five minutes of prayer
• How communal and structured prayer (like in monasteries) can form us
• The blessing of working in theology education, where prayer is built into the day

Praying for Others (23:00-26:00)

• What it means to hold people in prayer without imposing our will
• Why Kathy rarely prays for specific outcomes: "I don't have the wisdom to know what a suffering someone needs."
• The sacredness of simply blessing others: "God bless you. May God bless you."
• Understanding your presence itself as prayer when you carry the Holy Spirit with you

Misconceptions About Prayer (26:00-29:00)

• How gratitude, acts of service, and caring attention are all forms of prayer
• Meister Eckhart's wisdom: "If all you said was thank you, that would be prayer enough."
• Why telling young people “You don't get to choose" whether you're spiritual—it's part of being human
• Moving beyond seeing prayer as separate from the rest of life toward integration

Cultivating Awe and Wonder (29:00-34:00)

• How science and spirit aren't opposites—the experience of awe bridges both
• Dacher Keltner's research: we need 50 experiences of awe per day, not just 2-3
• Using "awe workshops" to help students recognize sacred moments
• Einstein's wisdom: "Never lose a holy cu...

• (00:03:00) - The Nature of Prayer and Attention
• (00:09:00) - Navigating the Digital Age Mindfully
• (00:12:00) - Prayer Practices for Everyday Life
• (00:20:00) - The Importance of Intentional Prayer Time
• (00:23:00) - Praying for Others
• (00:26:00) - Misconceptions About Prayer
• (00:29:00) - Cultivating Awe and Wonder
• (00:35:00) - The Power of the Rosary
• (00:37:00) - Generational Changes and COVID's Impact
• (00:41:00) - The Practice of Listening

What does it really mean to live an integrated faith life? In this powerful bonus episode, Father John Gribowich sits down with Cindy Black, a 26-year veteran of Catholic ministry, for an intimate conversation about discovering God in unexpected places and people.

Cindy shares her compelling journey from a "porta crib Catholic" who rarely attended Mass to becoming a passionate minister serving in youth ministry, diocesan leadership, Catholic radio, and parish evangelization. But this isn't just another conversion story, it's a profound exploration of how God shows up in bar conversations with atheists, friendships with those the church has wounded, and the sacred space of simply listening without agenda.

Through raw honesty and vulnerability, Cindy and Father John tackle the messy realities of ministry today moving beyond "winning arguments" to genuine encounter, and recognizing that every person, regardless of their beliefs or lifestyle, reveals something about the mystery of God's love.

If you've ever felt that your strongest encounters with God happened outside traditional church settings, or if you're wrestling with how to authentically love people the church has marginalized, this conversation will resonate deeply.

Finding Faith Through Witness (0:00 - 7:00)

• Cindy's journey from occasional Mass attendance to active faith
• The transformative influence of her Catholic grandparents
• How her grandparents embodied Theology of the Body before it was taught
• The moment she encountered God's love while holding her newborn daughter

From Relational Ministry to Radical Love (7:00 - 14:00)

• The Christ Renew His Parish retreat that changed everything
• Moving beyond "relational ministry with an ulterior motive"
• Understanding that truth isn't moral ideals—it's a Person whose identity is love
• Encountering God through unexpected friendships at a bar

God in the Margins (14:00 - 22:00)

• Father John's reflection on the Eucharist as lens for seeing God everywhere
• Why the strongest encounters with God often happen outside church structures
• The sacredness of face-to-face conversation in a dehumanized world
• Suffering as the great unifier across political and religious divides

Accompaniment Over Conversion (22:00 - 31:00)

• Moving from "winning arguments" to walking alongside people
• The complex pastoral situation of accompanying a trans individual seeking baptism
• What baptism really means when we don't fully understand how grace works
• Simone Weil's paradox: refusing baptism to avoid separating herself from others

Formation as Transformation (31:00 - 40:00)

• What faith formation really means (hint: it's not just theology classes)
• Avoiding the "consumer Catholic" trap
• Why the disciples didn't need seminary degrees to transform the world
• Interior integration versus compartmentalization

The Art of Accompaniment (40:00 - 52:00)

• Pope Francis's call to "remove our sandals at the sacredness of the other"
• How a barber brought four people to faith this year
• Treating every interaction—even with store clerks—as eternal encounter
• The prophetic practice of listening without agenda

Cindy Black has served in Catholic ministry for 26 years across multiple roles including youth ministry director, diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry (9 years), Catholic radio station team member (8 years), and currently serves in the Office of Evangelization at her home parish in Indi...

• (00:00:00) - Finding Faith Through Witness
• (00:07:00) - From Relational Ministry to Radical Love
• (00:14:00) - God in the Margins
• (00:22:00) - Accompaniment Over Conversion
• (00:31:00) - Formation as Transformation
• (00:40:00) - The Art of Accompaniment

This is a simple trailer to let you know that next up for Religion to Reality is a series of bonus episodes. Every other week, we'll release the full conversation we had with one of our guests from Season One.

Have a listen to this teaser to hear a quick montage of our favorite topic revealed to us throughout the season.

See you for Season Two in 2026!

In this powerful season finale of Religion to Reality, hosts Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich reflect on their journey through over two dozen interviews, distilling the most transformative lessons about living an integrated spiritual life. They explore why listening, not activism, may be the most prophetic witness the Church can offer today, challenge traditional clericalism from surprising angles, and discover that belonging must come before belief. Through conversations with Stephen White, Fr. Thomas Gaunt, and Paul Fahey, this episode reveals how authentic relationships, radical listening, and the sacramental worldview can transform both individual lives and Church communities.

The Art of Radical Listening (4:00)

• Why listening is the highest form of paying attention and waiting for God
• The difference between productive action and contemplative discernment
• How the spirit of Advent shapes authentic spiritual practice

Discipleship vs. Activism (6:30)

• The dangerous professionalization of Church work
• Why doing "Catholic things" doesn't automatically equal discipleship
• How the division between clergy and laity undermines the baptismal call

Clericalism from the Bottom Up (8:00)

• Steven White's provocative insight: laity share responsibility for clericalism
• The transactional spirituality that's persisted for 1,500+ years
• Why waiting for bishops to fix problems is itself a form of clericalism

The Fluidity of Roles (12:00)

• Moving beyond rigid categories while honoring the sacramental priesthood
• How effective preaching happens beyond ordination
• Creating healthy tension between structure and Spirit

Research as Sacred Listening (20:00)

• Fr. Thomas Gaunt on CARA's agenda-free approach to Church research
• Why Sunday Mass attendance isn't the only measure of active faith
• The surprising power of baptism to create lifelong belonging

The Indelible Mark of Baptism (25:00)

• Why does baptizing infants offer a "container" for spiritual growth
• How baptism creates belonging regardless of church participation
• The beauty of unconditional ecclesial presence

Belonging Before Belief (33:00)

• (00:05:40) - Interview with Steven White (Executive Director, Catholic Poject
• (00:19:40) - Interview with Fr. Thomas Gaunt (Executive Director, CARA)
• (00:32:40) - Interview with Paul Fahey (Limited License Professional Counselor, Retreat Leader, Catechist)

In this insightful episode of Religion to Reality, hosts Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich step back from theory to examine the hard data behind Catholic discipleship and faith formation. They explore surprising findings from their comprehensive discipleship study and discuss what the numbers reveal about modern spiritual practices, evangelization comfort levels, and the changing landscape of faith in America.

Featuring interviews with three leading voices in faith research, Hans Plate (Vinea Research), Josh Packard (Future of Faith), and Fr. Joseph Gibino (Diocese of Brooklyn), this episode bridges the gap between data and pastoral practice. Discover what Gen Z really thinks about God, why 100% of people with spiritual directors found them through a spiritual community to which they already belong, and how the Synod on Synodality is reshaping the Church's approach to listening.

Key Takeaway: Data isn't just for businesses—it's essential for understanding how to meet people where they are in their faith journey and creating meaningful pathways to deeper discipleship.

[00:00:00] Opening Reflection

• "Listen and silent share the same letters" - the importance of silence in listening

[00:01:00] Why Data Matters for the Church

• How businesses use data to serve customers
• Applying data-driven insights to church ministry
• Understanding where people stand in their faith journey

[00:02:00] Surprising Study Findings

• Both physical and digital prayer aids are used across all generations (only 6% use exclusively one type)
• 100% of people with spiritual directors found them through their parish or faith community
• Prayer apps correlate with increased prayer frequency
• The challenge of measuring interior spiritual life

[00:04:00] The Omnichannel Approach to Faith

• Why multiple touchpoints matter in spiritual formation
• The integrated life as the ultimate goal
• Different seasons require different spiritual resources

[00:06:00] Interview with Hans Plate (Vinea Research)

• Majority of respondents pray over an hour daily
• 76% are comfortable evangelizing; 56% are proactive about it
• High interest in learning more about evangelization
• The need to understand what "evangelization" actually means to people

[00:09:00] Rethinking Evangelization

• (00:06:00) - Interview with Hans Plate (Vinea Research)
• (00:17:00) - Interview with Josh Packard (Future of Faith)
• (00:31:00) - Interview with Fr. Joseph Gibino (Diocese of Brooklyn)

How do you find authentic Catholic community in a world that's more connected yet more isolated than ever? In this episode of Religion to Reality, hosts Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich explore why community keeps emerging as a central theme in faith formation, and why finding the right fit can be so challenging.

From whiskey tastings to Catholic Worker houses to digital book clubs, discover how different forms of community serve different spiritual needs. You'll hear honest conversations about parish shopping, the struggle to commit, and why sometimes the best community isn't the one with perfect liturgy or programs, it's the one where you show up consistently. Whether you're searching for your spiritual home or wondering if online connections can ever replace in-person fellowship, this episode offers practical wisdom for the journey.

Community Happens When People Need It (2:00-3:30)

• Why genuine encounters with God spark the desire for community
• How passion and shared interests naturally create fellowship

Whiskey and the Word: An Unconventional Small Group (4:00-14:00) Guest: Dr. Mark Heyman, Licensed Psychologist & Small Group Leader

• Creating low-barrier entry points for men's fellowship
• Why forced sharing turns people off from faith groups
• The importance of consistency: same time, same place, every week
• Understanding that not every group can (or should) be for everyone
• How whiskey breaks down barriers without being about getting drunk

Living in Community: Lessons from Catholic Worker Movement (20:00-32:00) Guest: Renée Roden, Journalist & Catholic Worker Member

• The reality check: community life is hard, even with a 1,300-year-old rule
• Why intimacy and friendship are foundational to sustainable community
• The temptation to become dictators of our own countercultural communes
• How families are successfully living the Catholic Worker vision
• Why conversion of heart requires healthy community support

Digital vs. In-Person Community (37:00-52:00) Guest: Luisamaria Hernandez, DeSales Media Success Consultant

• Using digital spaces as entry points to in-person connection
• Why commitment leads to consistency (and vice versa)
• The power of showing up: how to actually find communities in your area

• (00:04:00) - Interview with Dr. Mark Heyman (Whiskey and the Word Small Group)
• (00:20:00) - Interview with Renée Roden (Catholic Worker Movement & Community Life)
• (00:37:00) - Interview with Luisamaria Hernandez (Digital vs. In-Person Community)

Are podcasts reshaping how Catholics engage with their faith? In this episode of Religion to Reality, we explore the explosive growth of Catholic podcasting and what it means for modern faith formation. From survivors finding their voice to Latino communities building networks, discover why this medium is uniquely positioned to meet people where they are—both spiritually and literally.

• "Anyone who's baptized is the church" - Paul Fahey challenges traditional boundaries of who creates "official" Catholic content
• Why the institutional church struggles with oversight in the podcast space
• The tension between empowering lay voices and preventing spiritual harm through misinformation

• "If one person's heart has been touched, you've done your task and mission" - Christina Semmens on redefining podcast success
• How the head-heart-hands-feet framework applies to both creating and consuming content
• Why discernment, not downloads, should drive your content decisions

• Jose Manuel de Urquidi's wake-up call: "We're all fishing in the same small pond while the ocean is right there"
• How John Paul II prophetically identified the internet as the "new Roman Forum" back in 2002
• Why podcasts can create deep encounters with God despite being one-way communication

Paul Fahey - Host of Third Space podcast, limited licensed professional counselor, retreat leader, and catechist who focuses on survivors of church-related abuse. Paul stumbled into podcasting a decade ago and found it uniquely suited to catechesis through dialogue rather than static writing.

Christina Semmens - Host of Say Yes to Holiness With 230+ episodes under her belt, Christina brings a framework of head-heart-hands-feet to integrated Catholic living. Her podcast emerged from her book work and has become a continuous discernment journey.

Jose Manuel de Urquidi - Founder of the Juan Diego Network Leading a podcast network dedicated to Latino Catholics with shows covering everything from church history to children's stories. His mission: evangelize, form, and entertain—preferably all three at once.

01:00 - "I can listen to a podcast while driving, running, doing dishes, mowing the lawn" - Why convenience matters for busy Catholics

05:00

• (00:03:00) - Interview with Paul Fahey (Third Space Podcast)
• (00:12:00) - Interview with Christina Semmens (Say Yes to Holiness)
• (00:21:00) - Interview with Jose Manuel De Urquidi (Juan Diego Network)